Former Red Bull chief airs thoughts on epic Max Verstappen v Lewis Hamilton battle

Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, it's a combination that seems almost impossible to break.

Verstappen has been driving for the Red Bull family for his entire F1 career, competing with the senior team since the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, with his last race in Hungary his 200th. The Dutch driver has been on the podium no less than 117 times in that period.

Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull's former sporting director and now team boss at Stake F1, has shone a light on the 27-year-old Red Bull driver's milestone achievements.

"I worked with Jos [Verstappen's father] back in 1994 at Benetton, and before that, we karted against each other," Wheatley told De Telegraaf.

"When Max came into Formula 1 and won immediately on his Red Bull Racing debut in Barcelona the following year, it was like coming full circle. And at the same time, it was the beginning of a fairy tale.

"I really enjoyed our collaboration. Whatever you told Max, he listened to every piece of advice and absorbed the information. Not forgetting it afterwards. As if the driving itself didn't bother him at all.

"That first victory in Spain was very special, as was the race that year in Brazil. I remember well that we were watching that race extensively in the evening in the hotel bar."

At Red Bull, Wheatley was, among other things, the man responsible for the pit stops.

"Austria 2018 comes to mind now," he said. "Then we opted for a double stop, which worked out great, and Max won.

"At the pit wall, we were all in lederhosen. And then I stood on the podium like that, in front of all those Dutch fans.

"That was a wonderful experience, just like his first world title in Abu Dhabi, in 2021, of course. It was the first time I was in a championship fight and I thought, 'We're going to lose this'."

The race was a never-to-be-forgotten affair, culminating in a controversial conclusion that sparked a Red Bull protest, and stirred Wheatley into action to defend the team in the stewards' hearings afterwards.

"That was such an intense period," said Wheatley. "The emotion I felt after Max crossed the line first cannot be described. It still gives me goosebumps now.

"Mercedes then filed a double protest. I entered the room, and they even appeared to have brought a lawyer. Fortunately, we were vindicated, and the team could celebrate again.

"There is so much passion in the people; they sacrifice so much. Then, when they work with someone like Max, they think, 'This feels like the right thing to do'."